ISLAMABAD,April 20 2006: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded the NA to take a strict notice of thee harassment of The Nation / Nawa-e-waqt correspondent by the Bhakkar police.

Meanwhile, journalist community staged a walkout from the NA Press Gallery in protest over thrashing Haji Abdul Bashir Rao, a correspondent of The Nation and Nawa-e-waqt in Bhakkar by the local police. However, State Minister for Law and Justice Shahid Akram Bhindar assured the journalists that government would take necessary legal action against the responsible police officials. Later Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain referred the matter to the NA Standing Committee on Interior.

Speaking on point of order Leader of the Opposition said that government’s tall claims appear hollow as police is being used for seeking vendetta against press and political opponents. The bizarre incident took place on April 3, when The Nation’s Bhakkar correspondent was penalized for publishing a news items against the anti-encroachment `rive going on in Bhakkar .The journalist was thrashed and robbed of his wallet and mobile phone. The incident demands a prompt action against those who are responsible.
Source: The Nation
Date:4/20/2006